More Things You Might Not Know About Semi-Trailers

In our previous blog we brought out 10 tidbits that the average person might not have known about semi-trailers. Before we close the curtain on the subject, here—thanks to Popular Mechanics—are a few more:

Ever wonder the amount of power it takes to haul a fully loaded semi down the highway? A Detroit Diesel DD15 14.8-litre inline six-cylinder engine weighs 2,880 pounds—that’s 345 pounds more than an entire Mini-Cooper automobile! The colossal DD15 powerplant creates up to 560 horsepower and 1,850 lb-ft of torque. Giving it just 1200 rpms, the engine produces 1,500 lb-ft of torque. Most turbocharged diesel engines put out between 1,200 to 2,050 lb-ft to keep a fully loaded truck moving.

The 1978 movie Convoy, directed by Sam Peckinpah, grossed $15 million. The film was loosely based on the hit record of the same name in 1975 sung by C.W. McCall. The previous year, though, another trucker-themed movie—Smokey and the Bandit—cleaned house, grossing over $100 million.

The top-selling brand of semi truck is Freightliner, which sells about a third of the approximately 190,000 semis sold annually. Owned by Daimler Trucks North America, Freightliner owns the Western Star brand as well. The second best-selling brand is Navistar International, followed by PACCAR, which owns the Peterbilt and Kenworth brands. Volvo, in the fourth spot, is the owner of the Mack truck brand.

New fuel-economy standards that took effect last year require semis with sleeper cabs to get 7.2 mpg on level roads.

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